Newcastle United were absolutely diabolical on Sunday, totally lacking in quality, energy and fight as a West Ham side battling relegation won with ease.

Our away woes are a huge problem and our Premier League form has to turn soon, with us stuck down in 13th and five points behind European rivals Spurs, Chelsea and Man Utd.

In contrast, our home form has been on the rise in recent weeks – we’ve won four on the spin at St James’ Park while conceding just once in the process – and we’ve won our last two in the Champions League, responding to that Barcelona defeat with convincing 4-0 and 3-0 victories over Union SG and Benfica.

Winning under the lights on Tyneside doesn’t feel like the problem right now, but we need to se a response against Athletic Bilbao tonight. And, with three of our last four UCL games away from home, it’s a big chance to boost our hopes of a top eight finish and guarantee our place in the last 16.

Discussing Sunday’s disaster, our response and tonight’s clash with Bilbao in Tuesday’s press conference, Howe said:

“It feels like we’ve had a lot of time since. Whenever you deliver a performance like that, there are a number of factors to reflect on. But the focus very quickly turns to the next game with Europe. We have looked at it hard but now we have to move on. It’s never a nice thing but we have digested it and make sure the performance is better.

“We are right in the midst of a run of games that are hugely enjoyable and hugely challenging. We are hugely disappointed with our inconsistency in the Premier League. Results wise our recent run has been pretty strong but because we have so many competitions we haven’t strung them together in the Premier League.

“It’s a really important game for us as we know what we have ahead in the Champions League. Athletic Club will be stiff opposition. Defensively they are really well organised and they have delivered some strong performances this year. But Champions League nights here are always special.”

Team news

Bruno Guimaraes (illness) will be assessed after he trained away from the group on Tuesday, but Kieran Trippier returned to the group yesterday after missing our defeat at West Ham with a bug.

Lewis Hall has trained once again this week and could feature. Tino Livramento and Yoane Wissa will be absent once again, with the pair set to return after the international break.

Joelinton is a yellow card away from a one-game ban in the Champions League, meaning he’d miss our trip to Marseille if he’s booked tonight.

Bilbao have a long injury list. Star man Nico Williams (hernia) is out, along with captain Inaki Williams and attacking midfielder Oihan Sancet. Yuri Berchiche, Benat Prados, Yeray Alvarez, Maroan Sannadi and Inigo Lekue are also missing.

Predicted XI

(4-3-3): Pope – Trippier, Schar, Thiaw, Burn – Miley, Tonali, Ramsey – Murphy, Woltemade, Gordon.

This is one of the toughest line-ups to guess so far this season. Howe has said it himself, does he make wholesale changes after Sunday’s line-up let him down, or does he challenge that same group to redeem themselves tonight?

Discussing this, Howe said: “Difficult team to pick I think off the back of Sunday because you could make wholesale changes or you could give the main group of players a chance to redeem themselves for what they delivered and what we delivered. So yeah, I’m still not 100% there with my team, although it’s 99% there.”

With this in mind, I think we’ll see a mixture of the two, seeing Pope keep his place (for now), Trippier to return at right-back, Schar come in and Burn to keep his place at left-back with Hall not yet ready to start.

In midfield, Bruno’s illness could mean Miley comes in, which could make sense when the youngster was so good in our last Champions League game against Benfica. I fancy Ramsey to come in for Joelinton and I think Gordon will be given the chance to redeem himself, coupled with the fact he has four goals in three UCL games so far.

That would seem generous of Howe and harsh on Barnes, who might be one to watch on the right wing if Howe rotates Murphy, especially when Elanga is struggling and Barnes scored twice on that side against Benfica.

Match prediction

Stating my confidence in a win tonight feels like funny territory when I felt good going into West Ham before we delivered THAT display.

But, I do think we’re a different beast at home and I back us to respond. The big test may be Brentford away on Sunday, although we can’t take Bilbao likely and I don’t think we will.

Prediction: Newcastle 2-0 Athletic Bilbao

Howay the lads!